'54 



The Stork-like Birds 



three species being recognized, of which the White Stork (C. ciconia) is by far 

 the best known. This species, as its name suggests, is, with the exception of the 

 black wing-coverts and quills, pure white throughout, set off by a dark red bill, 

 reddish pink legs and feet, while the claws are black. The female is similar in 

 dress to the male, though slightly smaller in size, while the young have the wing- 

 coverts and quills brown; the total length is about forty- two inches. 



This Stork is found in summer over most of Europe except at the north, and 

 extends also into central Asia, retiring in winter to Africa and northern India. 

 It does not breed at all points along its northern range, being, for example, an 

 occasional visitor to the east coast of England, coming over from Holland and 

 Germany, where it is common during the nesting season. It was formerly abun- 

 dant in many parts of France, but constant molestation has made it simply 



a bird of passage 

 there. It has long 

 been associated 

 with man and seeks 

 rather than shuns 

 human habitations, 

 and hence usually 

 selects a chimney or 

 building for the nest- 

 ing site, or if these 

 be unavailable, it 

 may resort to rocks 

 or trees. The nest, 

 of sticks and reeds, 

 is at first a shallow 

 affair, but as the 

 birds return year 

 after year to the 

 same place, it finally 

 comes to be several 

 feet high. Boxes 

 are often placed for 

 them to use as nest- 

 ing places, and it is 

 looked upon as a 

 piece of great good 

 fortune to the house- 

 hold to have the box occupied. The eggs, usually from three to five in number, 

 are pure white. The Storks frequent marshes, where they feed on eels, frogs, 

 lizards, snakes, young birds, small mammals, and insects, and are in some 

 countries protected by law, on account of their value in keeping down reptiles, 

 removing offal, etc. They arrive in the spring and depart in the fall in flocks 

 of immense size, and while on the migrations usually fly at a great height, and 



FIG. 50. White Stork, Ciconia ciconia. 



